Improvement in machines for dressing fish



4,Sheets--Sheet2.. Y F. KELSEY & F.- H. HOSMER'. Machines for Dressing Fish.

NO. 142,918. .Patented Sep tember16,1873..

4 Sheets--Sheet 3. F. KELSE'Y 8!. F. -H'. HUSMER.

Ma'chine's for Dressing Fish. -No.142,918. Pa tentedSeptember16,1873.

4Sheets--Sheet4, F.'KELSEY 81. F. H. HUSMEFI. Machines for Dressing Fish. N0. 142,918. PatentedSeptember16,I873.

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@W fawyf 6, M mm- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK KELSEY AND FRANK H. HOSMER, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO; SAID HOSMER- ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF HIS RIGHT TO JACOB A. HOSMER, OF

SAME PLACE;

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR DRESSING FISHa- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,918, dated September 16, 1873; application filed July 19, 1873.

To all whome't may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK KELsEY and FRANK H. HOSMER, of Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Machines for Dressing Fish; and We do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is arepresentation of our machine in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a front View, and Fig. 3 is a plan view, of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the splitting and cleaning mechanism, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the entire machine.

The nature of our invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a machine for cleaning fish, as Will be hereinafter more fully set'forth.

In the accompanying drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

- part of the sash or gate is attached a knife, a,

which may be either straight or curved, as desired, and is used for cutting off the heads of the fish, the fish being held upon a stationary table, E, in front of the rising-and-falling knife. The head of the fish falls down a spout, H, and is carried off to any point desired.

After the head has been cut off the body is' placed upon an inclined feed-table, E, from which it passes onto an endless traveling belt, G, having spursor teeth as w, or their equivalents, projecting all along its surface. The fish is caught by these spurs and carried lengthwise on the belt G through the machine- Inits passage through the machine the fish,

first encounters a circularhorizontally-revolving cutter, I, which splits the fish open its entire length. The entrails, &c., of the fish are then removed by revolving cleaners J and K. The cleaner J consists of a disk with hooked arms I) b, as shown fully in Fig. 4, and the cleaner K consists of a circular wheel with brushes d d on its edges and part of its sides, which brushes may be made either of bristles or wire, and are intended to brush out of the fish all that was left by the first cleaner. Between the revolving knife and the first cleaner, as well as between the two cleaners, is a stationary opener, L, the inner end of which is made nearly triangular, and wedge-shaped with the outer edge curved. These openers hold the split fish open, so that the cleaners can operate within the fish. A suitable distance from and on the inner side of the end! less belt G is hinged a board, M, which is cut out, as shown, to form a ledge or shoulder, d, and the outer part of the board extending above the working parts I, J, and K. To this part of the board M is attached a bonnet or hood, N, which extends-entirely over the rear end onto the side of the machine, forming, with an inclined board, 0, on the side of the frame,

a spout for earring 01f the offal removed by the cleaners. The board M is hinged to a bar, 1?, the outer edge of which is on a line with the shoulder d of the board M, and these together form a guide-for the fish. The bar P is made adjustable out and in, so that it may be regulated to suit large or small fish. v

The various working parts of this machine may be operated by suitable belts and pulleys, or by gearing, as desired.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the adjustable bar 1?, hinged bar M, hood N, andinclined board 0, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth. Y

2. The combination of the revolving cutter I, openers L L, and cleaners J K, operating substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth. v

3. In a fish-dressing machine, an endless traveling belt, G, with spurs or teeth project and for the purposes mentioned.

7. lhe revolving cleaner J ,consistin g of a disk with hooked arms I), for the purpose of removing the entrails, &c., of a fish, substantially as specified.

8. In a fish-dressing machine, the combiuu tion of the revolving cleaners J K, the former having hooked arms b, and the latter having brushes D, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

9. In a fish-dressing-machine, the verticallyreciprocating knife, operated by means ofa crank and pitlnan for cutting off the heads of the fish, as herein set forth.

In testimony that we claim the above wehave hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK KELSEY. e FRANK H. HOSMER.

YVitnesses:

0. 0. McLon'rn, \VM. I. AFFLEGK. 

